About the Organisation

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization dedicated to providing aid and support to communities affected by crisis.

In Uganda, the IRC delivers impactful programs in health, education, and livelihoods, with a focus on promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Committed to gender equality, inclusion, and professional excellence, the IRC fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment, offering opportunities for staff to contribute to meaningful change. For more information, visit www.rescue.org.

Job Summary

The Social and Behavior Change Communications Manager at the IRC will provide strategic leadership and coordination for the design and implementation of evidence-based Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategies within the PROTECT SRHR project. The role focuses on promoting positive behaviors, social norms, and policies related to family planning, adolescent sexual health, maternal health, gender equality, HIV, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention.

The position involves significant field travel to West Nile districts, managing communications, branding, media engagement, and documentation of success stories, while collaborating with the MEAL team to produce data-driven communication materials.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of the project’s SBCC strategy aligned with PROTECT SRHR project objectives
Integrate SBCC approaches into service delivery, advocacy, and community engagement components
Conduct situation analyses, audience segmentation, and formative research to inform targeted interventions
Develop annual and quarterly SBCC work plans and budgets in collaboration with project teams and partners
Work with the Project Management Committee (PMC) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) to identify communications opportunities and update on program events and initiatives

Technical Oversight and Implementation

Design and oversee the development of SBCC materials (print, radio, TV, social media, community theatre, interpersonal tools)
Support community-led and gender-transformative communication initiatives that challenge harmful social norms affecting SRHR
Lead capacity strengthening of staff, partners, and community structures on SBCC methodologies and participatory approaches
Coordinate with service delivery teams to ensure demand creation and community mobilization activities are evidence-based and effective
Generate content for communications materials by setting up a system for regular content collection, interviewing stakeholders, and conducting field visits to collect audio-visual content

Partnership and Collaboration

Work closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Education, consortium partners, local government, community-based organizations (CBOs), and media partners to align SBCC efforts with national SRHR communication strategies
Liaise with consortium partners to ensure harmonization and complementarity of messages and interventions
Foster collaboration with youth, women’s groups, religious leaders, and traditional authorities to enhance community ownership

Communication and Knowledge Management

Lead documentation and visibility efforts showcasing project impact on SRHR behavior change
Manage media engagement, storytelling, and social media campaigns to amplify project messages
Contribute to donor reports, technical briefs, and knowledge-sharing platforms

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

Collaborate with the MEAL team to develop and apply SBCC indicators and tools
Conduct pre-testing, baseline, and post-intervention evaluations to assess reach, recall, and behavioral impact
Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices for dissemination at national and regional levels
Use evidence to adapt and refine communication strategies for continuous improvement

Key Deliverables

A comprehensive SBCC strategy and implementation plan
Suite of culturally appropriate communication materials and media campaigns
Quarterly and annual SBCC performance reports
Documented behavioral outcomes and community engagement results
Strengthened partner and community capacity in SBCC

Job Requirements

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Human Rights, or a related field
Additional relevant postgraduate qualifications in Health Communications, Communication for Development (C4D), or Public Health are an added advantage
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in designing and implementing SBCC or Communication for Development (C4D) programs, preferably in SRHR, HIV/AIDS, Family Planning, or adolescent health
Experience working in an international development or humanitarian organization preferred
Proven experience in message design and participatory communication approaches
Familiarity with digital and social media strategies for youth engagement
Experience in producing published material, managing events, media/PR, and content for digital communications
Experience working effectively with a range of staff, partners, and stakeholders to achieve communications objectives and produce deliverables

Competencies and Attributes

Strategic thinking and creativity in designing communication campaigns
Strong interpersonal and team-building skills
Ability to translate research into actionable communication strategies
Commitment to gender equality, youth empowerment, and community participation
Flexibility to travel to field locations and work under pressure

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct, which include Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. The IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.